PARIS … Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation has responded to the aerospace industry’s demand for lighter composite-wing aircraft by designing fuel components that integrate lightning and ignition protection capabilities without adding weight. Eaton will feature the integrated fuel system design as part of its product and technology demonstrations during the Paris Air Show on June 20-26.

Eaton is seeking further improvements through continuing research into advanced composites for aerospace fuel systems. The company is leveraging its experience in automotive fuel conveyance to design next-generation composite distribution systems for aircraft that are anticipated to produce additional weight reductions of up to 20 percent across the system.

“Eaton’s success at incorporating lightning isolation technology within fuel components without adding weight is a major advantage for our OEM customers,” said Einar Johnson, vice president of customer solutions and services for Eaton’s Aerospace Group. “Now they can come to Eaton for one customized solution for composite bonding and grounding architecture rather than having to deal with multiple suppliers and multiple requirements across the system.”

Composite-wing aircraft pose design challenges for fuel systems because advanced bonding and grounding architectures are required to compensate for lower electrical conductivity. In a unique solution developed for the aerospace industry, Eaton has successfully embedded composite fuel components with isolator technology to protect fuel tanks from ignition during lightning strikes.

Eaton Corporation is a diversified power management company with 2010 sales of $13.7 billion. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2011, Eaton is a global technology leader in electrical components and systems for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive drivetrain and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has approximately 70,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit